Overview
Topping out Jeep’s 3.6-litre petrol V6 Grand Cherokee (brief wheelbase) vary is the $98,450 Overland 5 seater that’s topic of this evaluate. Two different fashions can be found: the Evening Eagle from $77,950 and the Restricted from $83,950 (all excluding on-road prices).
A 2.0-litre, 4 pot PHEV 4xe Summit Reserve 5 seat mannequin sits atop the Grand Cherokee line-up at $129,950 + ORC.
For comparable cash, the one six-cylinder, petrol powered, correct 4×4 competitors for the Grand Cherokee comes from Land Rover’s extra highly effective Defender 110 five-door P400 S at $99,500 + ORC.
Others price a lot extra, are diesel-powered or are comfortable roaders with restricted off-road capabilities.
The Grand Cherokee five-seaters save 1000’s in comparison with their Grand Cherokee L stablemates and would enchantment to patrons who don’t want or need three-row, seven-seat capability.
5-seat Grand Cherokees are on a 127mm-shorter wheelbase at 2964mm versus 3091mm for the L mannequin.
You possibly can inform facet by facet because the L is means longer however the Grand Cherokee nonetheless has imposing stature on the street.
Energy comes from a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine good for 210kW and 344Nm.
The engine has been round for many years in a single kind or one other and has been refined alongside the best way to ship respectable efficiency and gasoline financial system on this 2167kg luxurious fourbie.
It drives all 4 wheels by means of a slick eight pace auto transmission.
The Grand Cherokee Overland, able to returning a claimed 9.9L/100km, makes use of the optimum Quadra-Trac 2 Energetic 4×4 System with Selec-Terrain, low-range switch case and Quadra Raise air suspension.
This set-up is Jeep’s most succesful on- and off-road combo and contributes to the Grand Cherokee’s path score that allows excessive off-road driving.
As is the case with all Jeep 4x4s, the Grand Cherokee Overland is confirmed on the Rubicon Path in Nevada, apparently probably the most intimidating off-road trails in america.
Commonplace tools contains heated, electrically adjusted entrance seats with energy lumbar help, the most recent 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen multimedia unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus over-the-air updates and peak adjustable arms free energy tailgate.
Different fascinating goodies within the Overland are Nappa leather-based upholstery, ambient LED lighting with multi-colour choices, ahead wanting digicam, proximity get up that unlocks and preps the automobile on walk-up, a twin pane panoramic glass sunroof.
On the protection and driver help entrance we discover computerized LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go perform, lively lane administration, computerized emergency braking (with pedestrian and bicycle owner detection), drowsy driver detection and visitors signal recognition.
In Overland spec’, the Grand Cherokee “shorty” delivers excessive ranges of consolation and spaciousness with 4095 litres of whole inside passenger quantity and as much as 1067 litres of cargo area.
It’s based mostly on a brand new, pressed metal monocoque platform that’s stiffer than earlier than and runs impartial entrance and rear suspension enhanced on this occasion by Quadra-Raise air suspension with digital semi-active damping. The system can increase floor clearance to 276mm and gives a most wading depth of 610mm.
Driving Impressions
Australia figured within the validation means of this mannequin Grand Cherokee with 60,000km of outback driving in excessive circumstances to see the way it fared and to make any vital changes.
It reveals because the path rated mannequin feels secure on the street, properly planted and properly suspended on tough roads and within the bush with the one rattle being the rear seat belt (a bone of competition for ANCAP which handed down 4 stars to this and different Grand Cherokee SWB variants having variations in restraint efficiency to the hybrid and LWB variations) banging on plastic trim.
Apart from that, the massive Grand Cherokee sails over all method of surfaces together with corrugated sand and rocks with aplomb because the supple air suspension and large 20-inch wheels and tyres absorb the tough stuff.
On sealed roads the place it should stay more often than not, the automobile has poise with that properly sprung and damped suspension (boasting terrain response modulation) coming into play once more to ship a close to luxurious automotive really feel that compliments the posh inside on this penultimate Overland variant.
Although it’s no sporty SUV, the massive Grand Cherokee shows a flat stance when cornering on sealed roads whereas nonetheless holding the flexibility to absorb mid nook bumps with out flinching.
The steering feels properly weighted and is pretty direct for a two-tonne-plus fourbie and the massive brakes are spectacular in chew and really feel. We didn’t tow something on take a look at so can’t inform how they’d rise up with 2.8 tonnes behind.
Relatively surprisingly, the outdated 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 petrol engine produces respectable efficiency within the Grand Cherokee. It likes to rev and has a raucous snarl once you plant the proper foot however the precise obtainable efficiency doesn’t tally with the engine’s output of a “mere” 210kW and 344Nm.
It feels stronger than that, a lot stronger little question aided by the keen and easy shifting eight pace auto ‘field that retains the mill on the boil.
Its dimension is misleading till you go to park once you’ll want loads of room to open the doorways.
However being tech-rich makes the complete driving expertise that a lot simpler… to a degree when a few of mentioned tech overrides the act of driving the beast. And we don’t like that.
Luxurious accoutrements abound inside beginning with comfortable Nappa leather-based and the monumental harman kardon gazillion watt audio system that add to the posh really feel of this huge American 4×4.
There’s electrical help to most features and a comfortable, cosseting atmosphere about the entire inside.
And it’s a good-looking beast with a discernibly Jeep flavour to the outside that’s clear and sharp. Even the brand new fashion convex grille grows on you and on nearer inspection, construct high quality seems passable with minimal panel gaps, even paint, tight becoming rattle free fascias and correct screw, nut and bolt fixings.
Gas financial system on take a look at hovered across the 10.0L/100km mark, so near the manufacturing facility determine and it has an 87 litre tank to offer a theoretical vary of 870km. Not unhealthy for an enormous petrol fourbie.
Throughout our time with the Grand Cherokee on- and off-road we had been pleasantly shocked at how competent the brand new huge Jeep is. We’ve heard all of the horror tales and had been a bit leery about going distant in it.
Needn’t have frightened as a result of the Grand Cherokee was properly up for the job and took us there and again in a fashion to which we wish to turn into accustomed.
